Strand working and spooling apparatus and method



Dec. 3, 1968 J. .1. KOVALESKI 3,413,334

STRAND WORKING AND SPOQLING APPARATUS AND METHOD 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 FiledApril 2, 1965 INVENTOR Joseyh J- Kovale ski Dec. 3, 1968 J. J. KOVALESKI3,413,834

RAND WORKING AND SPOGLING APPARATUS AND METHOD 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 FiledApril 2, 1965 wr-d 'INVENTOR. dosevh J Kovcdeslm AGENT Dec. 3, 1968 J.J. KOVALESKI STRAND WORKING AND SPOOLINC- APPARATUS AND METHOD FiledApril 2, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.

Joseph 1 Kovcfleskl HENT' STRAND WORKING AND SPOOLING APPARATUS ANDMETHOD 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed April 2, 1965 m m m M T V m N l q Om N MW$2 m 3? \zzma w NW: 0d w 1 1 1 I NM k I i 0: ,1 W

o W Q w m ll 1 MU E i1i!l i 7 7 ////-V/// ///A AGENT Dec. 3, 1968 J. J.KOVALEISKI 3,413,834

STRAND WORKING AND SPOCLINC' APPARATUS AND METHOD Filed April 2, 1965Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR.

Jo'seyh J. Kan/desk},

3,413,834 STRAND WORKING AND SPOOLING APPARATUS AND METHOD .loseph J.Kovaleski, Trumbull, ComL, assignor to The Advanced Wyrepak Company,Inc., Bridgeport, Conn.,

a corporation of Connecticut Filed Apr. 2, 1965, Ser. No. 445,079 19Claims. (Cl. 72289) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A spooling machine havinga powered spool traverse whose limits are adjustable. There is anadjustable, independent or master timing device which providessuccessive, adjustable time intervals, and a control mechanism activatedby the timing device, which periodically automatically increases theseparation or spacing of the limits of the traverse and simultaneouslyreduces the spool speed by predetermined increments. The time periodbetween the increments can be varied by adjusting the timing device, andis a multiple of the traverse period whereby either many or else fewtraverses can occur between separation increments of the traverse limitsand decrements of the spool speed.

This invention relates to the processing and spooling of wire and otherstrands.

An object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved apparatusand method for working and spooling strands of material, as for examplemetal wire, by which there is effected a highly desirable simplicity,economy and also reliability, and by which there is also providedgenerally an improved and more effective operation beyond thatheretofore obtainable with known methods and equipment.

When applied to the art of metal wire, the invention effects specificimprovements as follows:

Heretofore, in spooling metal wire which emerges from a wire drawingmachine, control of the build-up on the spool was effected by a dancerarrangement which included special and somewhat complicated controls togovern the speed of spooling. The spooling speed being a variable, wascontrolled by the wire tension in the cases where dancer type controlswere utilized.

One specific object of the present invention is to provide an improvedwire working and spooling apparatus and method by which a substantiallyconstant wire speed, as in feet per minute, is effected while at thesame time eliminating the drawbacks heretofore accompanying constantspeed operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved apparatus andmethod as above set forth, wherein substantially constant tension in thewire is also maintained, as well as a substantially constant speed,during the full build-up of the wire on the spool.

A feature of the invention resides in the provision of a spoolingapparatus and method as above characterized, wherein the ratio of thebarrel to flange diameter of the spool may be as great as two to onewhile still attaining the desired objectives.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved wirespooling apparatus and method in accordance with the foregoing, whereinvariations in the speed of the wire are held to small values, wellwithin a figure of for instance. 1

Yet another object of the invention is to provide improved means foreffecting an automatic spreading of the traverse travel-limit devices,in conjunction with the foregoing objectives and features.

A further feature of the invention resides in the provision of animproved wire drawing and spooling apte States Patent 0 Patented Dec. 3,1968 paratus and method characterized by substantially constant wirespeed and wire tension, wherein the speed of the wire drawing machine iswithin limits made to be a subservient factor, such speed havingrelatively small variations as dictated by incremental build-up of thewire on the spooling equipment.

Yet another feature of the invention is the provision of a combinationWire drawing and spooling machine as above set forth, wherein theinherent friction or drag of the wire-drawing die is utilized to effectthe necessary deceleration required by the incremental speed control ofthe spooling equipment.

Still another feature of the invention resides in the provision of aconstant speed and constant tension wire drawing and spoolingcombination as outlined, wherein a dancer which controls the speed ofthe Wire drawing machine will have a relatively stable functioninvolving only small movements throughout the full build-up of the wireon the spool. In consequence, the effective range of movement of thedancer is relatively small, occupying but a minor zone of the entirerange available.

Other features of the invention involve the provision of an improvedapparatus and method as above characterized, wherein a highly desirableuniformity in the product is obtained, with greatly reduced waste.

Other features and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the drawings accompanying this specification, similar characters ofreference are used to designate like components throughout the severalviews, in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic representation of a processing and spoolingapparatus as provided by the invention, illustrating a wire drawingmachine, a dancer speed control therefor and a wire spooling machine.

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of one type of spooling apparatus asprovided by the invention.

FIG. 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 33 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a schematic circuit diagram illustrating a major portion ofthe spooling speed and traverse control mechanism provided by theinvention.

FIG. 6 is a schematic circuit diagram illustrating another portion ofthe spooling speed control system.

Considering first FIG. 1, there is illustrated a wire drawing machine 10including a drawing die 12. A strand of wire 14 is shown as passingthrough the die 12 and around a final block or capstan 16, after whichit passes to a dancer assemblage 18 having sheaves 20 movable verticallyin suitable supports (not shown). Connected with the sheaves 20 is acable 22 passing over a pulley 24 and having a weight 26 by which thesheave assemblage 20 is continually urged in an upward direction. Anyincrease in the tension of the wire strand 14 results in the sheaveassemblage 20 moving downward, the reverse being true when the strand 14experiences a decrease in tension.

The pulley 24 is mechanically coupled to a variable resistor 28 whichcontrols the drive motor 30 for the capstan 16. The above arrangementrepresents one conventional way for controlling the linear speed of thewire strand 14 in accordance with the tension existing in the strand, asit is sensed by the dancer assemblage 18.

From the dancer 18 the wire strand 14 enters the spooling machine 32 andpasses over a traverse pulley 34 carried by a supporting arm 36. Fromthe pulley 34, the wire is reeled onto a spool 38 driven from a variablespeed electric motor 40.

Referring to FIGS. 2-4, the traverse pulley 34 and arm 36 are carried bya carriage 42 which travels along slide bars 44, 46 engaged by pulleys48, 50 of the carriage.

Driving of the carriage 42 in reverse directions is eifected by a drivescrew 52 threaded into a nut 54 on the carriage. The drive screw 52 ismounted on a shaft 56 carried by a bearing 58 and having at its outerend a spur gear 60 and an electric clutch 62. Engaged with the spur gear60 is another spur gear 64 of like diameter, carried on a jack shaft 66mounted in a bearing 68. The jack shaft 66 also has an electric clutch70, and the clutches 62, 70 are connected to drive pulleys 72, 74respectively which are driven by a common belt 76 passing over a poweredpulley 78. A speed reducer 80 car ries the pulley 78 and is in turnpowered through its input shaft 82 which is connected by a coupling 84to the drive shaft 86 for the spool 38. On the drive shaft 86 a pulley88 is mounted, being driven by a belt 90 from the motor 40. The spool 38is carried by a spool spindle 92 mounted in bearings 94 and carrying thedrive shaft 86 and pulley 88.

With the above organization, driving power which turns the spool 38 isalso applied to the clutch pulleys 72, 74, and depending on which one ofthe two clutches 62, 70 is energized, the drive screw 52 will be drivenor turned in one direction or the other, thereby effecting a movement ofthe traverse carriage 42 either to the left or to the right. By properlycontrolling the clutches 62, 70 the carriage 42 may be reciprocated fromleft to right, and the extent of movement of the carriage (andconsequently of the traverse pulley 34) may be varied by effectinglonger or shorter intervals of energization of the clutches.

In accordance with the present invention, the extent of movement of thetraverse pulley 34 and carriage 42 is automatically controlled andincreased as the spooling of the wire 14 proceeds, thereby to take careof the conical configuration of the end flanges of the spool 38. Also,at the same time the speed of turning of the spool 38 is antomaticallydecreased in order to effect a substantially constant linear speed ofthe strand 14, such traverse movement and speed adjustment beingcontrolled by an independent or settable adjustable timing device whichconstitutes the master control for determining the linear speed, wirespeed, and wire build-up on the spool 38.

Referring again to FIG. 1, by establishing a given linear speed for thewire 14 which is being reeled onto the spool 38, a control is had overthe speed of the wire drawing machine, notably the final block orcapstan 16 thereof. For, if the speed of the capstan 16 is too fast ascompared with the speed of the spooling machine 32, the tension in thestrand 14 will be lessened, and the result on the dancer arrangement 18will be a counterclockwise turning of the pulley 24 and the adjustableresistor 28, to

the end that the speed of the motor 30 which drives the capstan 16 willbe decreased. On the other hand, if the speed established by theindependent timer associated with the spooling machine is too great, ascompared with the speed of the wire drawing machine, a dancer response18 will be such as to effect a clockwise turning of the pulley 24 andthe adjustable resistor 28, to the end that the motor 30 will be speededto bring up the speed of the wire drawing machine to the proper value.Thus, in accordance with the present invention, an indirect control ofthe speed of the wire drawing machine is had by means of the spoolingmachine and the associated control circuitry, through the medium of thetension in the wire 14 and operation of the dancer assemblage 18 whichcontrols the wire drawing machine speed. The advantageous result is thatthe linear speed of the wire strand 14 is maintained quite constant,Within a variation of less than 5%, and also that the tension in thestrand is maintained substantially constant, all with relatively simpleequipment and in a simple manner.

The speed and traverse travel control efi'ected by the adjustable timerdevice is accomplished as follows: Considering first the traversetravel, adjustable trip members 98 (only one of which shows in FIG. 4)are mounted on the traverse carriage 42, such trip members beingengageable with limit switches 100 and 102 respectively, which areadjustably carried by a slide 104 and have threaded nuts 106, 108receiving screws 110, 112 respectively. The drive screws 110, 112 arecoaxial and manually adjustable by a hand wheel 114.

Also, such screws are automatically adjusted or turned by increments,through the medium of a spur gear 116 meshing with a smaller spur gear118 on the shaft 120 of an index motor 122 of slow speed characteristicand capable of starting and stopping instantly.

The gear 118 has a face plate 124 carrying actuator buttons 126engageable seriatim with an index switch 128 so arranged as to efiect ahalting of the index motor 122 after the latter has turned through afraction of a revolution.

The actuation of the limit switches 100, 102 effects an automaticcontrol of the electric clutches 70 whereby an automatic reversingmovement of the carriage 42 takes place between the limits establishedby the particular position of the limit switches.

Further, an actuation of one of the limit switches, as for example thelimit switch 100, will start an independent timer device whichthereafter, independently of a succeeding reciprocation of the carriage42, will after a predetermined interval of time energize the index motor122. This will cause an incremental adjustment of the adjustable limits,100, 102 by virtue of turning of the drive screw 110, 112 through partof a revolution.

Such turning, elfected by the index motor 122, will also result inactuation of the switch 128 by which the motor 122 is deenergizedthrough inactivation of the timer device and a switch later described.Upon this deenergization and then a succeeding actuation of the limitswitch 100, the timing cycle and adjustment of the limit switches isrepeated. The timing cycle is long enough to enable a number oftraversals to be effected before the motor 122 adjusts the limits 100,102 to their next settings.

The control circuit by which this is accomplished is shown in FIG. 5. Inthis figure, the limit switches 100, 102 are shown as connected inseries, the latter switch being normally closed whereas the switch 100is normally open. Across the switch 100 are connected a set of relaycontacts 130, which constitute holding contacts for a relay coil 132which controls additional sets of relay contacts 134 and 136, connectedrespectively to the clutches 62, 70. Direct current is supplied to theclutches through the relay contacts 134, 136 in the manner shown in thecircuit.

It will be noted that the contacts 136 are normally closed, and openwhen the relay coil 132 is energized. the reverse being true for thecontacts 134. Thus, alternate energization of the clutches 62, 70 isefiected in response to energization and deenergization of the relaycoil 132. If the limit switch 100 is closed, even momentarily, theenergization of the relay coil 132 will be continued through the holdingcontacts 130, and will only be discontinued upon actuation of the limitswitch 102 to open the circuit through the coil. Thus, an automatictraversal control occurs, by virtue of the above described circuitcomponents.

The index motor 122 is of the reversible type having an exciting winding138, as well as load windings 140. 142 which latter are connected to acommon energizing lead 144 and also to separate energizing leads 146,148 joined to the main feed line L1 and having respectively in theircircuits mechanically coupled control switches 150, 152 by which eitherone line or the other (and one winding or the other 142) may beenergized individually, but not simultaneously.

Thus, actuation of the switches 150, 152 may result in either forward orreverse rotation of the motor 122, providing a circuit is completedthrough the common lead 144 to the main line L2. The switch 150 isnormally closed and the switch 152 normally open, except when these aremanually shifted. Mechanically connected to the switches 150, 152 areswitches 154 and 156, the latter being directly connected to the line L2and the switch 154 being connectable to the line L2 through a time delayswitching device including a switch 158 and a solenoid actuator 160 forthe switch 158.

It will be understood that if the coupled switches 150, 152, 154, 156are actuated from the positions shown to their opposite conditions themotor 122 will be immediately energized for reverse movement, whereaswhen these switches are in the shown positions forward movement of themotor can occur, but not until the time delay switch 158 is closed.

Closing of such time relay switch is effected by an independent settablecounter device having components located within the dotted box outline162. This is an adjustable counter or time delay switch mechanism whichis produced commercially under the tradename Micro- Flex No. HZ40A6. Thedelay switching device includes a counting coil 164, which effectssynchronous rotation of an armature (not shown). Associated with thearmature is a clutch coil 166 operating a clutch (not shown) whichdrives a switch operator having a delayed action in closing a normallyopen switch 168. The switch 168 is connected to effect energization ofthe solenoid 160.

Energization of the counting coil 164 is effected immediately uponenergization of the traverse relay 132, by virtue of a set of relaycontacts 170 in the counting coil circuit. The relay contacts 170 arealso connected with a normally closed switch 172 of the clutch coilwhereby the latter is simultaneously energized with energization of thecounting coil. Holding contacts 174 also connect with the clutch coil166 to maintain energization of the latter after opening of the relaycontacts 170 as a consequence of deenergization of the traverse relay132.

For each period of energization of the relay coil 132, the counting coil164 will be operative, and upon reverse travel of the traverse duringwhich the relay 132 is deenergized, the counting coil will bedeenergized and inoperative. Thus, the counting or timing procedure iseffective only during movements of the traverse in one direction, asfrom left-to-right when viewing FIGS. 3 and 4.

Upon the desired overall elapse of time being effected by the delaydevice 162, the delay action operator for the switch 168 which is underthe control of the clutch coil 166 will be effective in closing theswitch 168, whereupon the time delay switch 158 will be closed,effecting a forward energization of the index motor 122. This will tendto separate the limit switches 100, 102 by a fixed small increment asdetermined by the spacing between the actuator buttons 126 engageablewith the switch 128. The incremental adjustment of the traverse is thushalted by a button 126 opening the index switch 128 which action, asseen in FIG. 5, deenergizes the clutch coil 166 during the nextright-to-left movement of the traverse. By suitable adjustment of thetime delay device 162- the incremental adjustment of the traverse limitsmay be made to occur after each two complete traversals, or after threecomplete traversals, four complete traversals, etc. depending on theoverall range of delay incorporated in the device.

Accordingly it is seen that a repeating incremental increase in themovement of the traverse is effected under the control of an independenttiming device, and such incremental adjustment may be made to suit thesize of the wire being reeled on the spool 38, whereby in conjunctionwith the angular end flanges of the spool, a satisfactory layering ofthe wire will occur.

Also, in accordance with the invention, simultaneously with the repeatedincremental adjustment of the traverse limits there is effected anautomatic decrease in the speed of the drive means which powers thespool 38 and spindle 92 therefor, such that as the wire builds up on thespool the rate of turning of the latter is correspondingly decreased. Inconsequence, a substantially constant linear speed of the wire strand 14may be readily effected, the speed adjustment being also incremental butoccurring with such frequency that a speed variation well within a 5%limit is readily effected. And, in accordance with the invention, thesame time delay device and index motor which is used to adjust thetraverse limits is also employed for effecting the speed decrease of thespool 38.

Referring to FIG. 4, a motor shaft is provided with a worm 173 whichmeshes with a worm gear carried by a shaft of an adjustable resistor 182which is included in the circuit of the motor 40 driving the spool 38.Accordingiy, upon the indexing movements of the motor 122, theadjustable resistor 182 will also be adjusted, resulting in a generallygradual decrease in the motor speed and speed of the spool 38. Suchdecrease, in conjunction with the increase of travel of the traverse,makes possible a substantially smooth layering of the wire on the spool38, and a linear wire speed which is "substantially con stant, as wellas effecting a substantially constant tension in the wire between thespooling and wire drive machines.

The energizing and speed control circuit for the spool driving motor 40is shown in FIG. 6. In this figure, a basic adjustable resistor 184 isconnected in series with the adjustable resistor 182 to provide thenecessary overall speed range and calibration of the spooling motor 40.The field coil 186 of the motor 40 has variable energization, as shown,this being effected by the adjustable resis tors 182, 184. The resistor182 is automatically adjusted by the index motor 122, as alreadyexplained.

It will now be understood from the foregoing that I have provided anovel and improved combination strand processing and handling orspooling apparatus and method which in a unique manner effects asubstantially constant linear speed of the strand or wire, andsimultaneously maintains a substantially constant tension in the wire,all by means of a single independent timing device which not onlycontrols the spooling apparatus but also indirectly controls the speedof the wire drawing machine or processing equipment located ahead of thespooling apparatus. The operation of the equipment as provided by theinvention is reliable and foolproof, and enables a superior product tobe produced with very little waste, and at a relatively high rate ofproduction. The adjustment or setting of the apparatus provided by theinvention may be easily and quickly effected, involving essentially asetting of the independent timing device to provide the desiredincremental adjustment of the traverse and reduction in spooling speedof the spool driving means.

Variations and modifications may be made within the scope of theinvention, and portions of the improvement may be used without others.

I claim:

1. In a spooling machine, in combination:

(a) reversible reciprocative means for guiding a strand of material backand forth, onto a spool,

(b) adjustable limit means operable to control the extent of movement ofsaid reciprocative means,

(c) power means for operating said reciprocative means,

(d) an adjustable independent timing device providing a time basewhereby a time period of determinate length can be run off,

(e) means for rendering said timing device operative in response to anoperation of said limit means, and

(f) means controlled by said independent timing device, for effectingautomatic adjustment of said limit means upon the expiration of saiddetermined period of time.

2. A spooling machine as in claim 1, wherein:

(a) means are provided, responsive to the operation of said limitadjustment means, for automatically limiting the extent of saidadjustment.

3. A spooling machine as in claim 1, wherein:

(a) the adjustable limit means comprises limit switches and reversingmeans controlled by said switches, for

7 effecting automatic reversal of said reciprocative means,

(b) said means controlled by the timing device effecting shifting ofsaid limit switches to new positions.

4. A spooling machine as in claim 2, wherein:

(a) the timing device comprises an electrical counter,

(b) said means for limiting the extent of adjustment of the limit meansrendering temporarily inoperative the counter each time that theadjustment is limited.

5. In a spooling machine, in combination:

(a) means including a powered spindle, for spooling a strand ofmaterial,

(b) reversible reciprocative means for guiding said strand of materialback and forth, onto said spooling means,

(c) an adjustable speed power drive for said spindle,

(d) an adjustable independent timing device, providing a time basewhereby a time period of determinate length can be run olf,

(e) control means responsive to an operation of said reciprdcativemeans, for automatically rendering operative said independent timingdevice, and

(f) means controlled by said timing device, for effecting automaticspeed adjustment of said power drive after the elapse of said timeperiod starting from the beginning of operation of the timing device.

6. A spooling machine as in claim 5, wherein:

(a) operation-sustaining means are provided for said control means, saidsustaining means acting independently of said reciprocative means afterthe latter has initially effected operation of the control means. i

7. A spooling machine as in claim 6, wherein:

(a) the means for effecting said automatic speed adjustment comprises anadjustable resistor and a motor for adjusting the same, and comprisesmeans Ior temporarily rendering the timing device inoperative to furthereffect speed adjustment of the power drive after a specified amount ofoperation of said speed adjustment means.

8. In a spooling machine, in combination:

(a) means including a powdered spindle, for spooling a strand ofmaterial,

(b) reversible reciprocative means for guiding said strand of materialback and forth, onto said spooling means,

(c) an adjustable speed power drive for said spindle,

(d) adjustable limit means operable to control the extent of movement ofsaid reciprocative means,

(e) power means for operating said reciprocative means,

(f) an adjustable independent timing device, providing a time basewhereby a time period of determinate length can be run ofl,

(g) control means responsive to an operation of said limit means, forautomatically rendering operative said independent timing device,

(h) means controlled by said timing device, for effecting automaticspeed adjustment of said power drive after the elapse of said timeperiod starting from the beginning of operation of the timing device,and

(i) means controlled by said timing device, for effecting automaticadjustment of said limit means after said elapse of time.

9. A spooling machine as in claim 8, wherein:

(a) the adjustable limit means includes limit switches and a relaycontrolled thereby, and

(b) the means for rendering the timing device operative includescontacts controlled by said relay.

10. A spooling machine as in claim 9, wherein:

(a) the means for eifecting speed adjustment and for effectingadjustment of the limit means comprises an electric motor made operativeby the timing device, and

(b) automatic means for deenergizing the electric motor after it hasoperated for an interval of time. 11. Apparatus for processing andhandling wire com prising, in combination:

(a) means for performing at one station an operation on a strand ofwire,

(b) adjustable-speed power means for pulling said strand from saidstation,

(c) means including a powdered spindle, for spooling said strand atanother station,

(d) means responsive to the tension in the strand between said pullingand spooling means, for automatically controlling the speed of saidpower means,

(e) an adjustable speed power drive for said spindle.

(f) an adjustable independent timing device, providing a time basewhereby a time period of determinate length can be run off, and

(g) control means controlled by said timing device. for effectingautomatic speed adjustment of said power after the elapse of said timeperiod starting from the beginning of operation of the timing devicedrive.

12. The invention as defined in claim 11, wherein:

(a) the operation-performing means includes a wiredrawing die,

(b) the means controlled by the timing device comprises a motor-operatedadjustable resistor and means for causing the operation thereof to beincremental.

13. Apparatus for processing and handling wire comprising, incombination:

(a) means for performing at one station an operation on a strand ofwire,

(b) adjustable-speed power means for pulling said strand from saidstation,

(c) means including a powered spindle, for spooling said strand atanother station,

(d) reciprocative means for guiding said strand bacx and forth, ontosaid spooling means,

(e) means responsive to the tension in "the strand between said pullingand spooling means, for automatically controlling the speed of saidpower means.

(f) an adjustable speed power drive for said spindle.

(g) an adjustable independent timing device, providing a time basewhereby a time period of determinate length can be run oiT,

(h) control means responsive to operation of said reciprocative means,for automatically rendering operative said independent timing device,and

(i) speed adjustment means controlled by said timing device, foreffecting automatic speed adjustment of said power drive after theelapse of said time period starting from the beginning of operation ofthe timing device.

14. The invention as defined in claim 13, wherein:

(a) operation-sustaining means are provided for said control means, saidsustaining means becoming operative after the control means has beeninitially rendered operative by the reciprocative means, and

(b) means for causing the operation of the speed adjustment means to beincremental, each different increment occurring in a different one ofsaid time periods.

15. The method of increasing the extent of traverse movement in aspooling machine, which includes the steps of starting an independenttimer when the traverse attains a predetermined position in itsoperating movement, and shifting a movement limit of the traverse aftera fixed amount of operation of the timer.

16. The method of increasing the extent of traverse movement in aspooling machine, which includes the steps of starting an independenttimer when the traverse attains a predetermined position in itsoperating movement,

and shifting a movement limit of the traverse after a fixed amount ofoperation of the timer corresponding to a number of complete cycles ofthe traverse.

17. The method of decreasing the speed of the spool during strandbuild-up in a spooling machine of the type having a spool traverse,which includes the steps of starting an independent timer when thetraverse attains a predetermined position in its operating movement, andslowing the spool drive by an increment after a fixed interval ofoperation of the timer.

18. The method of increasing the extent of traverse movement andsimultaneously decreasing the speed of the spool during strand build-upin a spooling machine, which includes the steps of starting anindependent timer when the traverse attains a predetermined position inits operating movement, and shifting a movement limit of the traversewhile simultaneously slowing the spool drive by fixed increments after afixed interval of operation of the timer.

19. The method of processing and handling wire, which includes the stepsof performing an operation on a strand of wire at one station, feedingthe strand to a spooling means having a spool traverse at anotherstation, pulling the strand from said one station at a speedcommensurate with the tension in the strand at a point ahead of saidspooling means, and decreasing the rotary speed of the spooling means byincrements following each other in regularly timed sequence wherein thetime periods between increments are of fixed length, each time periodcorresponding to a given fixed number of traversals of the spooltraverse.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,844,699 2/1932 Stack 72-17 X2,205,213 6/1940 Lessmann 72289 X 2,254,220 9/1941 Hubbard 2422S3,042,326 7/ 1962 Lamb. 3,109,602 11/1963 Smith 242-158 3,169,714 2/1965Schippers 242158 CHARLES W. LANHAM, Primary Examiner.

K. C. DECKER, Assistant Examiner.

